Sun Jan 18 07:57:30 UTC 2026: ### BJP Infighting Erupts in Amravati Following Municipal Election Losses

The Story:
Following disappointing results in the recent Amravati Municipal Corporation elections, internal strife has broken out within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Twenty-two BJP candidates, including two winners and twenty losers, have formally requested that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expel former MP Navneet Rana from the party. They allege that Rana actively campaigned against BJP candidates, contributing significantly to their losses by promoting her husband Ravi Rana’s Yuva Swabhiman Party instead.

Key Points:
* Twenty-two BJP candidates have requested the expulsion of former MP Navneet Rana.
* The complainants allege Navneet Rana campaigned against BJP nominees, calling them “dummies.”
* In the 87-member Amravati Municipal Corporation, the BJP won 25 seats, a significant drop from the previous 45 seats.
* Yuva Swabhiman Party and Congress won 15 seats each, AIMIM 12, NCP 11, Shiv Sena and BSP 3 each, Shiv Sena (UBT) 2 and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi secured 1 seat.
* The BJP and Yuva Swabhiman Party had broken their alliance before the election.

Critical Analysis:
The timing of this internal conflict, immediately after a major setback in the Mumbai civic polls where the BJP “wrested control of BMC”, suggests a struggle for power and accountability within the Maharashtra BJP. CM Devendra Fadnavis, while celebrating a 45% vote share in civic body polls, must now grapple with internal dissent in Amravati, a region where the BJP had previously held considerable influence. The fact that the Yuva Swabhiman Party gained seats at the expense of the BJP further fuels the tension.

Key Takeaways:
* Internal divisions within the BJP are surfacing following local election setbacks in Maharashtra.
* The fractured alliance between the BJP and Yuva Swabhiman Party has negatively impacted the BJP’s performance in Amravati.
* Navneet Rana’s alleged actions have triggered a crisis of confidence among local BJP leaders in Amravati.
* The BJP’s dominance in local governance in Maharashtra is being challenged by other parties and internal discord.
* Devendra Fadnavis faces a difficult decision that could further fracture the party or quell the dissent.

Impact Analysis:
The outcome of this internal dispute will likely have significant repercussions for the BJP’s future in Amravati and potentially wider implications for the party’s strategy in Maharashtra. Expelling Navneet Rana could alienate a section of voters, while failing to act could embolden further internal dissent. This episode may also influence future alliance strategies and candidate selections for the BJP in Maharashtra. The BJP needs to carefully manage this situation to avoid further erosion of its support base.

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